AN INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER DISCUSSES THE COMPLEXITIES OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN HUMANS AND FIRE AND THE STATUS OF HUMAN EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE DISASTROUS EFFECTS OF FIRE. A SUBSEQUENT SECTION EXAMINES CHARACTERISTICS AND BEHAVIOR OF FIRE, WITH A SPECIAL NOTE ON SMOKE MOVEMENT IN BUILDINGS. THE TEXT COVERS THESE TOPICS REGARDING FIRE HAZARDS: FIRE HAZARDS OF SPECIFIC MATERIALS SUCH AS WOOD, FIBERS, AND EXPLOSIVES; INDUSTRIAL AND PROCESS FIRE HAZARDS (E.G. SOLVENT EXTRACTION); SPECIAL FIRE PROTECTION AND PREVENTION ISSUES REGARDING INDOOR AND OUTDOOR STORAGE PRACTICES, MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT, ELECTROSTATIC IGNITION SOURCES, ETC.; FIRE SAFETY IN BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, WITH ATTENTION TO HIGH-RISE STRUCTURES; FIRE HAZARDS IN BUILDING SERVICES (E.G., AIR CONDITIONING AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE SYSTEMS); AND THE HAZARDS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF OCCUPIED STRUCTURES INCLUDING RESIDENTIAL, BUSINESS, INDUSTRIAL, AND EDUCATIONAL. THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PUBLIC FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND PRIVATE MANAGEMENT IN PROVIDING FIRE PROTECTION AND WATER SUPPLIES AND FACILITIES FOR FIRE PROTECTION ARE EXAMINED. SEVERAL SECTIONS OFFER DETAILED DISCUSSIONS OF FIRE PROTECTION DEVICES AND SYSTEMS INCLUDING FIRE ALARMS, DETECTION DEVICES, GUARD SERVICES, EXTINGUISHING AGENTS, WATER SPRINKLERS, SPECIAL SYSTEMS, AND PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. A CHAPTER ON FIRE HAZARDS IN RAIL RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEMS IS INCLUDED. A LIST OF PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW IN PREPARING PROPERTY INSPECTION REPORTS AND PLANS AND SIX APPENDIXES WITH TECHNICAL MATERIAL COMPLETE THE TEXT. (DAG)